Portable television (tv) phone and method for controlling operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A TV phone is provided, which includes a TV module; an MRFU for demodulating an incoming call received through a forward channel, and modulating and transmitting a signal on a reverse channel; a TV control section for supplying a tuning signal to the TV module; an MSP for establishing a phone or TV mode; and a display unit for displaying synchronized signals on an image viewing screen. In a TV mode, the TV phone receives an incoming call, stops the TV module; switches off and on output of an audio signal of the selected TV broadcasting channel; displays a character message on the TV viewing screen; or superimposes a graphic image over the image on the TV viewing screen.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. Pat. No. 9,137,354, which issued on Sep. 15, 2015,was filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/647,914 in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 9, 2012, and was a continuation of,and claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/467,210, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice on Dec. 20, 1999 and claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) toKorean Pat. App. Ser. Nos. 1998-56487 and 1999-54007, which were filedin the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 19, 1998 and Nov. 30,1999, respectively, the entire disclosures of all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand-held portable cellulartelephone, and more particularly to an integrally combined television(TV) and portable cellular phone (hereinafter, referred to as “TVphone”).

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, rapid and widespread use of portable cellulartelephones as an ordinary personal communication appliance in societyhas driven the desire of users toward development of the portable phonewith a variety of additional functions besides making simpleconversation. For example, portable phones are being developed with acalculating function, a biorhythm checking function, and otherfunctions, including the capability of transmitting/receiving televisionimages as well as a video camera image. The term “TV phone” hereinrefers to a wireless portable cellular phone, which allows for watchinga television (TV) broadcast program through a displaying unit in theportable phone in addition to the capability of cordless telephoneconversation.

In order to receive TV broadcasts, a portable phone should be equippedwith two radio frequency units. The reason for this is that a frequencybandwidth necessary for transmitting/receiving telephony messages (i.e.,audio and data) for the portable phone is different from that for a TVbroadcast. The operational status of the portable TV phone is classifiedinto a phone mode, a waiting mode, and a TV mode. The TV mode is alsoused both as a waiting mode and as an image-receiving mode.

Because the TV phone should allow a user to watch and hear images andaudio of a television broadcast program received in the TV mode throughthe display unit, i.e. a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD), and the speaker or earphone of the TV phone, it cannotuse the method employed by a general portable phone to inform a user ofan incoming call or an incoming character message, while in the TV modestate.

That is, there is no method of immediately informing the user of theoccurrence of an incoming call or an incoming character data messagewhen the TV phone is being used to watch and listen to a televisionbroadcast program.

There is therefore a need for a portable TV phone that rapidly andaccurately informs a user that there is an incoming call or characterdata message when the user is viewing a TV broadcast program.

A TV phone is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 95-46026, filedon Dec. 1, 1995 (published on Jul. 31, 1997), entitled “A COMBINED TVRECEIVER AND CELLULAR PHONE” of LG Electronics Inc. However, the TVphone in the prior art discloses technology for controlling separatelythe operations of the transmitter/receiver of the cellular phone and theTV receiver by using only a microprocessor, but no technology forprocessing a character message such as short message service (SMS).Also, it is impossible to switch the operational mode when an incomingcall occurs during the viewing of a TV broadcast program in the TV mode.Accordingly, when an incoming call occurs during the watching of a TV,the transmitter/receiver of a cellular phone is operated separately,thereby increasing consumption of a battery, and causing inconveniencein switching of the operational mode from the TV mode to the phone mode.That is, a user suffers inconvenience having to perform a switching offof a TV and a switchover of the operational mode from the TV mode to thephone mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portableTV phone designed to selectively allow for transmission or reception ofan audio signal, as well as reception of a TV program.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable TVphone which effectively informs a user i.e., a called party, of thereception of any incoming call related message when the user receivesthe incoming call related message from a calling party.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable TVphone, which automatically activates preset incoming call alarm modeswhen the operational mode of the TV phone is switched from the phonemode to the TV mode.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, these andother objects are accomplished by providing a TV phone in which atelevision and a portable cellular phone are integrally combined. The TVphone includes a TV module for receiving and demodulating a desired TVchannel signal among radio-frequency electromagnetic signals received,in response to an input of a tuning signal, when the TV module operatesby supply of a power supply voltage, to generate a composite videosignal, a composite synchronizing signal and a composite audio signal; aMobile Station Radio Frequency Unit (hereinafter, referred to as “MRFU”)for demodulating a signal indicative of an incoming call receivedthrough a forward channel, for forming an audio conversion channel amongthe received radio-frequency electromagnetic signals to output thedemodulated signal, and for modulating and transmitting a signal on areverse channel; a TV control section for supplying the tuning signalcorresponding to a channel selection command signal to the TV module,the TV control section synchronizing On Screen Display (OSD) data suchas a font, a graphic etc., corresponding to display control data anddisplay data such as an icon, with the composite synchronizing signal tooutput the synchronized signal as a video signal; a Mobile StationProcessor, (hereinafter, referred to as “MSP”) for establishing a phonemode/TV mode in response to an input command, generating a channelselection command signal stored in a predetermined memory area bysetting the TV mode, supplying the display control data to the TVcontrol section according to a preset incoming call alarm mode whenreceiving an incoming signal from the MRFU or interrupting a powersupply voltage supplied to the TV module, and processing audio dataoutputted from the MRFU to output the processed audio data signal whilesupplying audio data to the MRFU; and a display unit for synchronizingthe composite video signal and graphic video signal outputted from theTV module and the TV control section with the composite synchronizingsignal and displaying the synchronized composite video signal andgraphic video signal on a image viewing screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a TV phoneaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the process of displaying an incomingcall message of the TV phone according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views illustrating a state in which theincoming call message is displayed on a screen of a display unit of theTV phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to various embodiments ofthe present invention. In the following description of the presentinvention, only portions necessary for understanding the operation ofthe present invention are set forth, and a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when itmay obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the inner construction of a TVphone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 designates the MRFU, reference numeral20 designates the MSP, and reference numeral 30 designates a keypad ofthe portable phone module. These components are incorporated in circuitsapplied to conventional portable digital cellular phones, such as CDMAtype portable cellular phone, to implement the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. The constructions and operations of the abovecomponents will be apparently understood by reference to the followingdetailed description.

Also, reference numeral 14 designates a radio frequency switch (RFSW),reference numeral 16 designates the TV module, reference numeral 22designates the TV control section, reference numeral 24 designates anLCD driver (LCDD), and reference numeral 26 designates the TFT-LCD.Since generally the TFT-LCD cannot receive a composite video signal anddisplay an image by itself, the LCDD separates the brightness signal,color signal, and synchronizing signal from the composite video signal,makes an RIG/B signal, and then outputs them in synchronization with thesynchronizing signal.

The RFSW 14 has a circuit for switching an antenna 12 connected to acommon terminal COM to both a first port P1 and a second port P2 or onlyto the second port P2.

That is, the RFSW 14 includes a first port P1 connected to the TV module16 and a second port P2 connected to the MRFU 18. The RFSW 14 connectsthe second port P2 to the antenna 12 in response to an input of acontrol signal IDLE in a logic “low” state, or connects the first portP1 and the second port P2 to the antenna 12 in response to an input of acontrol signal IDLE in a logic “high” state. The RFSW 14 is providedwith a circuit for not allowing a radio frequency signal inputted to thesecond port P2 to be applied to the first port P1.

The TV module 16 operates by an input of a power supply voltage Vccsupplied upon the “turning on” of a switch 31. The TV module 16 includesa tuner 32 for selecting only the TV channel signal corresponding to theinput of a tuning signal CH-S among signals outputted from the firstport P1 to down-convert the TV channel signal to an intermediatefrequency signal IF, and a demodulator 36 for demodulating theintermediate frequency signal IF outputted from the tuner 32 to output acomposite video signal CV, a composite synchronizing signal CSYNC and anaudio signal AO2. The tuner 32 includes a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) 34 forgenerating an associated tuning frequency in response to an input of thetuning signal CH-S, determining whether or not a phase is locked to thegenerated tuning signal, and outputting a receiving state signal RSScorresponding to a receiving field strength of the TV channel signalreceived.

The TV control section 22 includes a flash memory (FRAM) 38 for storingprogram data for controlling the TV module 16, font data and graphicdata, such as an icon; a video memory (VRAM) 40 for storing text dataand graphic data under control of the OSD in order to output the data asdisplay images; a display control section 42 for inputting and analyzingdata in response to an input of an interrupt signal INT, accessing theflash memory 38 and outputting the tuning signal TS, the text data andthe graphic data corresponding to the analysis of the data from theflash memory 38, and controlling the tuning operation according to thereceiving state signal RSS outputted from the TV module 16; an OSDprocessor 44 disposed between the MSP 20 and the display control section42, for interfacing data therebetween and synchronizing the displayrelated data outputted from the display control section 42 with avertical synchronizing (VS) signal and horizontal synchronizing (HS)signal outputted from the LCDD 24 to output the synchronized displayrelated data as display images through the video memory 40. The displaycontrol section 42 has an 8 bit-microprocessor unit MPU of one chip anda universal synchronous/asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) forcommunication of data included therein. Further, the OSD processor 44includes a timing generator for generating a composite synchronizingsignal, and a latch register for temporarily storing data, etc. Thecomposite synchronizing signal is used when displaying the OSD dataassociated with the phone mode on the TFT-LCD 26 in a state in which theTV module is disabled.

First of all, suppose that the operational mode of the TV phone, asshown in FIG. 1, is set to the TV mode and one among the first, secondand third incoming alarm modes is set as the alarm mode for an incomingcall on the TV phone. For example, suppose that at least one among threeincoming call alarm modes is set as the incoming call alarm mode. Asstated above, the first incoming call alarm mode interrupts the powersupply of the TV and switches the operational mode from the TV mode tothe phone mode; the second incoming call alarm mode switches the TVaudio outputted from the TV module; and the third incoming call alarmmode displays an incoming call character message or a preset graphic ata specific region on the TV image displaying screen. The incoming callalarm mode is set by using the keypad 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Forexample, the first incoming call alarm mode is a phone mode, the secondincoming call alarm mode is a bell mode, and the third incoming callalarm mode is a mute or lamp mode, and these incoming call alarm modesare set by using the keypad.

As shown in FIG. 1, a radio-frequency, electromagnetic signal isreceived by an antenna 12, which converts the radio-frequency,electromagnetic signal into an electrical signal, which is supplied to acommon terminal COM of an RFSW 14. The RFSW 14 allows the commonterminal COM to be connected to both the first port P1 and the secondport P2 or to be connected only to the second port P2 based on the logiclevel of a control signal outputted from the MSP 20. For example, whenthe operational mode of the TV phone is set to the TV mode, the MSP 20enables the power supply control signal TVCTL to “turn on” switch 31 andmakes the control signal IDLE become a logic “high” state. By thisoperation, when switch 31 is turned on, the TV module 16 is suppliedwith a power supply voltage Vcc so that it is in an operable state.

In such a state, the MSP 20 supplies the OSD processor 44 in the TVcontrol section 22 with a channel selection command signal CHS. The usermay select a channel by inputting from the keypad 30. The OSD processor44 stores the channel selection command signal CHS inputted from the MSP20 in a latch register 46 and generates an interrupt signal INT. Inresponse to activation of the interrupt signal INT, the display controlsection 42 reads out data stored in the latch register 46 and analyzesif the interrupt signal INT is a command or general data. Determiningwhether a specific address bit or data bit transmitted from the MSP 20is set performs this analysis. Meanwhile, the display control section 42outputs a response signal ACK in response to the interrupt signal INT inorder to release the interrupt of the OSD processor 44. By release ofthis interrupt, the OSD processor 44 sets the state of its latchregister 46 to a free state.

By this operation, if the display control section 42 determines thatdata inputted from the OSD processor 44 is the channel selection commandsignal CHS, it accesses the flash memory 38 and outputs a tuning signalTS, which corresponds to the channel selection command signal CHS, fromthe flash memory 38 for application to the PLL 34 of the tuner 32disposed in the TV module 16.

The PLL 32 in the TV module 16 oscillates a tuning frequencycorresponding to the tuning signal for application to the TV tuner 32,which down-converts the corresponding TV channel signal among theradio-frequency electromagnetic signals outputted from the first port P1of the RFSW 14 to an intermediate frequency signal IF for application tothe demodulator 36.

The demodulator 36 connected to the tuner 32 is adapted to demodulatethe intermediate frequency signal IF to output a composite video signalCV, a composite synchronizing signal CSYNC, and audio signal AO2 of thecorresponding channel. The audio signal AO2 outputted from thedemodulator 36 is reproduced either through an earphone (not shown) or aspeaker (not shown), which is turned on by switch 33. At this time, thePLL 34 of the tuner 32 monitors that an oscillating frequency of avoltage controlled oscillator VCO is locked, and measures the receivingfield strength of the selected channel to supply the receiving statesignal RSS corresponding to the measured field strength to the displaycontrol section 42. The display control section 42 allows for anautomatic channel search by using the voltage level of the receivingstate signal RSS.

Meanwhile, the LCDD 24 allows an NTSC decoder included therein toseparate the analog composite video signal CV into a color signal of R,G, and B, and synchronizes the separated color signal of R, G, and Bwith the composite synchronizing signal C SYNC for application to theTFT-LCD 26, which displays the synchronized color signal on a screenthereof. Also, the LCDD 24 synchronizes and separates the inputcomposite synchronizing signal CSYNC to output a vertical synchronizingsignal VS and a horizontal synchronizing signal HS. Therefore, when theoperational mode of the TV phone is set to the TV mode, TV images aredisplayed on the screen of the TFT-LCD 26 while an audio signal AO2 isoutputted under the control of the MSP 20.

Meanwhile, the MRFU 18 coupled to the antenna 12 through port P2 or RFSW14 receives a radio-frequency, electromagnetic signal of atransmitting/receiving frequency bandwidth for a portable phone,converts an analog signal into a digital signal or converts a digitalsignal into an analog signal, and power-amplifies the converted signalto transmit it through the antenna 12. The MRFU 18 can be easilyconstructed by combining an RF unit and a baseband analog (BBA) circuitof a conventional portable phone. For example, the MRFU 18 can beembodied by combining a CDMA type radio transceiver unit, a chip of“BBA2.X(Q5312CDMA)” manufactured by QUALCOMM Co. as a BBA circuit forconverting an analog signal into a CDMA type digital data and viceversa, and an RF unit. The RFSW 14 allows the common terminal COM to beconnected to the second port P2 under the control of the MSP 20 asdescribed above when the operational mode of the MRFU 18 is set eitherin wait mode or transmitting/receiving mode.

The MSP 20 coupled to the MRFU 18 analyzes commands supplied from thekeypad 30 and generates control signals corresponding to the commands.Further, the MSP 20 performs or controls data signal processingoperations such as demodulating, de-interleaving, decoding, and vocodingof the digital signal inputted thereto from the MRFU 18 so that itoutputs the received forward channel data while outputting coded audiodata as reverse channel data. A codec 28 coupled to the MSP 20 convertsthe forward channel coded audio data to an analog audio signal to outputthe converted audio signal (AO1) through a speaker or earphone, or codesan analog audio signal inputted thereto from a microphone (AIN) tosupply the coded audio signal as an audio signal of a reverse channel tothe MSP 20.

In addition, the MSP 30 informs a user watching a TV program of anincoming call by controlling the incoming call modes as shown in FIGS.3A and 3B through analysis of the incoming call alarm modes set in aninner memory if the received forward channel data message is a messageassociated with an incoming call. The MSP 30 may selectively use“MSM2300” of a one-chip type supplied from QUALCOMM Co. in U.S.A. andone of chips for executing the same function as that of the “MSM2300”chip.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the process of indicating an incomingcall message on a TV phone according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, in which a user is informed of an incoming call state uponthe reception of an incoming call message while in the TV mode. Aprogram for the flowchart is stored in a memory block of the MSP 30 asshown in FIG. 1.

A call alarm operation in TV mode upon the occurrence of an incomingcall will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 2,3A, and 3B.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in TV mode where a user watches the TV programof a desired channel on the TV phone, the MSP 20 monitors an output ofthe MRFU 18 at predetermined time intervals to determine at step 102whether or not any incoming call message has been received. If it isdetermined at step 102 that no incoming call or message has beenreceived, the MSP 20 continues to operate in TV mode.

On the other hand, if it is determined at step 102 that the MRFU 18 hasreceived incoming call or message, the program proceeds to step 104 atwhich the MSP 30 detects the incoming call alarm modes set in the memorytherein. The incoming call alarm modes herein means the above-mentionedfirst, second and third incoming call alarm modes. The MSP 20 determinesat steps 106, 110 and 114 of FIG. 2 whether or not the present incomingcall mode is any one of the first to third incoming call modes. If it isdetermined at step 106 that the present incoming call mode is the firstincoming call mode (i.e., a bell mode), the program proceeds to step108, where the MSP 20 disables the power supply control signal TVCTLsupplied to the switch 31 so that it interrupts the power supply voltagesupplied to the TV module 16, and turns the control signal IDLE suppliedto the RFSW 14 to the logic “low” state, which allows the antenna 12 tobe disconnected from the first port P1 of the RFSW 14. In this callalarm mode, a telephone bell is driven by the incoming call. And then,if it is determined at step 120 that the user wishes to respond to theincoming call, the program proceeds to step 122 in which the MSP 20transmits a response message through a reverse channel.

If it is determined at step 110 that the present incoming call alarmmode is the second incoming call alarm mode (i.e., a vibration mode),the program proceeds to step 112 at which the MSP 20 switches the switch33 connected to an audio output node of the demodulator 36 atpredetermined intervals to switch an output of a TV audio signal. Forexample, the audio output could be turned on and then off every halfsecond. Therefore, when an incoming call mode is set to the secondincoming call mode, an audio signal is intermittently cut off while theTV image continues to be outputted, thereby audibly informing the userviewing the TV program of an incoming call state.

If it is determined at steps 106 and 110 that the present incoming callmode is not set to the first or second incoming call mode, the programproceeds and the MSP 20 decides that it is in the third incoming callalarm mode. Within the third incoming call alarm mode, there are twodifferent modes of display: text and graphic image.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate schematically examples of displaying anincoming call message on a viewing screen of a display unit of the TVphone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3Aillustrates a character message, signifying an incoming call, displayedon a specific region of a viewing screen of the display unit, forexample, at the lower end portion. FIG. 3B illustrates a preset graphicimage including an image character message of “you're wanted on thephone” displayed on the entire portion of the viewing screen thereof.

At step 114, the MSP 20 determines whether or not the present incomingcall mode is set to the text mode. The text mode displays an incomingcall message at the lower end portion of the viewing screen like theoblique line shown in FIG. 3A. If it is determined at step 114 that thethird incoming call alarm mode is set to text mode, the program proceedsto step 116 where the MSP 20 supplies the OSD processor 44 with acontrol signal signifying a text. In response, the OSD processor 44generates the interrupt signal INT for application to the displaycontrol section 42. The display control section 42 analyzes the controlsignal signifying a text stored in the latch register 46 of the OSDprocessor 44 and accesses the flash memory 38 to allow the flash memory38 to output text data corresponding to the text signifying controlsignal for application to the OSD processor 44. The processor 44 storesthe text data inputted thereto from the display control section 42 inthe video memory 40. Also, the OSD processor 44 synchronizes the textdata stored in the video memory 40 with the composite synchronizingsignal CSYNC to output the synchronized text signal as a video signal ofRGB at the lower end portion of a horizontal line. The LCDD 24, which iscoupled to the OSD processor 44, supplies the video signal of RGBoutputted from the OSD processor 44 to the TFT-LCD 26, which displaysthe video signal at the lower end portion of a image viewing screen asshown in FIG. 3A.

It should be noted that the display control section 42 and the OSDprocessor 44 controls the text data so that they can be displayed at thelower end portion of a field or a frame as described above. In addition,it is preferable that the text data is an image character message of“you're wanted on the phone”. The oblique line portion as shown in FIG.3A is a region on which any message notifying the viewer of an incomingcall is displayed, and the remaining portion, except the oblique lineportion, is a region on which the TV image is displayed.

If, on the other hand, it is determined at step 114 that the thirdincoming call alarm mode is not set to the text mode, the programproceeds to step 118 where the MSP 20 transmits a graphic datadisplaying command to the display control section 42 through the OSDprocessor 44. The display control section 42 accesses the flash memory38 and directs the flash memory 38 to output the graphic data fordisplaying an incoming call graphic to the OSD processor 44, whichstores the inputted graphic data in the video memory 40. The OSDprocessor, 44 synchronizes the graphic data stored in the video memory40 with the composite synchronizing signal CSYNC to output thesynchronized signal as a video signal of RGB at the lower end portion ofa horizontal line. The LCDD 24, which is coupled to the OSD processor44, supplies the video signal of RGB outputted from the OSD processor 44to the TFT-LCD 26, which displays the TV image with the graphic datasuperimposed on top. The image viewing screen with the superimposedgraphic data is as shown in FIG. 3B.

Accordingly, it can be seen that if the incoming call alarm mode is setto the third incoming call mode, either a character message signifyingthe incoming call or images signifying there is an incoming call, suchas the combination of the telephone graphic and the character message of“you're wanted on the phone”, is displayed either at the lower endportion of the image viewing screen or the entire portion of the imageviewing screen, thereby informing a user of an incoming call state, evenwhile the TV audio sound is continually reproduced and outputted.

At subsequent step 120, the MSP 20 determines whether or not the userresponds to the incoming call. This can be implemented by detecting if asignal corresponding to the input of the SEND key on the keypad 30 isgenerated. For a flip type portable phone, the user's response to theincoming call can be detected through the opening of the flip of theportable phone. If it is determined at step 120 that the user respondsto the incoming call, the program proceeds to step 122 where the MSP 20transmits an incoming call response message through the MRFU 16 to abase station in order to enter the phone mode. On the other hand, if isdetermined at step 120 that the user does not respond to the incomingcall, the operation mode of the TV phone remains in TV mode.

As apparent from the above description, the TV phone of the presentinvention provides many advantages. When in TV mode, a user can beinformed of an incoming call by stopping the operation of a TV module;switching off and on output of an audio signal of the selected TVbroadcasting channel; displaying a character message at the lower endportion of the TV viewing screen; or superimposing a graphic image overthe image on the TV viewing screen, thereby accurately informing theuser that a call has been received and allowing the user to rapidlyanswer the telephone.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a communication moduleto communicate with an external electronic device; and a controlleroperatively coupled with the communication module, the controllerconfigured to: present multimedia content via a display operativelycoupled with the apparatus; receive, using the communication module, anincoming event from the external electronic device; and pause displayingof at least one portion of the multimedia content or outputting of anaudio signal corresponding to the at least one portion at leasttemporarily based at least in part on the receiving.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive, usingthe communication module, data corresponding to the multimedia contentfrom another external electronic device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to: output, via a speakeroperatively coupled with the apparatus, an audio signal corresponding tothe at least one portion of the multimedia content based at least inpart on the pausing of the displaying.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to: output, via a speakeroperatively coupled with the apparatus, another audio signalcorresponding to the incoming event based at least in part on thepausing of the outputting.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: present, via the display or aspeaker operatively coupled with the apparatus, a notificationcorresponding to the incoming event.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the controller is further configured to: concurrently display,via the display, the notification and the multimedia content at leasttemporarily.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the notificationcomprises a text, a character, a graphic image, an image character, avibration of the apparatus, or any combination thereof.
 8. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein the notification comprises an icon, an image, atext, or a symbol representing an address corresponding to a shortmessage service, a phone number, or an email address.
 9. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the incoming event comprises a call event, a shortmessage event, a multimedia message event, or any combination thereof.10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: determine whether the incoming event is responded to by auser corresponding to the apparatus within a specified period of time;and resume the displaying of the at least one portion or the outputtingof the audio signal based at least in part on a determination that theincoming event has not been responded to by the user within thespecified period of time.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein thecontroller is configured to: refrain from the resuming based at least inpart on a determination that the incoming event has been responded to bythe user within the specified period of time.
 12. An apparatuscomprising: a communication module to communicate with an externalelectronic device; and a controller operatively coupled with thecommunication module, the controller configured to: present multimediacontent using a first user interface via a display operatively coupledwith the apparatus; receive, using the communication module, an incomingevent from the external electronic device; and switch from the firstuser interface to a second user interface to reply the incoming eventbased at least in part on the receiving.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the controller is further configured to: stop displaying of atleast one portion of the multimedia content or outputting of an audiosignal corresponding to the at least one portion; and output anotheraudio signal corresponding to the incoming event.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein at least one of the first user interface, or thesecond user interface comprises a text, a character, a graphic image, animage character, or any combination thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim12, wherein at least one of the first user interface, or the second userinterface comprises an icon, an image, a text, or a symbol representingan address corresponding to a short message service, a phone number, oran email address.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the incomingevent comprises a call event, a short message event, a multimediamessage event, or any combination thereof.
 17. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whetherthe incoming event is responded to by a user corresponding to theapparatus within a specified period of time; and return to the firstuser interface based at least in part on a determination that theincoming event has not been responded to by the user within thespecified period of time.
 18. A machine-readable storage device storinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations comprising: presenting, atan electronic device including a communication module, multimediacontent via a display operatively coupled with the electronic device;receiving, using the communication module, an incoming event from anexternal electronic device; and pausing, at the electronic device,displaying of at least one portion of the multimedia content oroutputting of an audio signal corresponding to the at least one portionat least temporarily based at least in part on the receiving.
 19. Themachine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operation ofpausing comprises: outputting, via a speaker operatively coupled withthe electronic device, an audio signal corresponding to the at least oneportion of the multimedia content based at least in part on the pausingof the displaying.
 20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18,wherein the operation of pausing comprises: outputting, via a speakeroperatively coupled with the electronic device, another audio signalcorresponding to the incoming event based at least in part on thepausing of the outputting.
 21. The machine-readable storage device ofclaim 18, wherein the operation of pausing comprises: presenting, viathe display or a speaker operatively coupled with the electronic device,a notification corresponding to the incoming event.
 22. Themachine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the storedinstructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors toperform operations comprising: determining whether the incoming event isresponded to by a user corresponding to the electronic device within aspecified period of time; and resuming the displaying of the at leastone portion or the outputting of the audio signal based at least in parton a determination that the incoming event has not been responded to bythe user within the specified period of time.
 23. A machine-readablestorage device storing instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform operationscomprising: presenting, at an electronic device including acommunication module, multimedia content using a first user interfacevia a display operatively coupled with the electronic device; receiving,using the communication module, an incoming event from an externalelectronic device; and switching from the first user interface to asecond user interface to reply to the incoming event based at least inpart on the receiving.
 24. The machine-readable storage device of claim23, wherein the operation of switching comprises: stopping displaying ofat least one portion of the multimedia content or outputting of an audiosignal corresponding to the at least one portion; and outputting anotheraudio signal corresponding to the incoming event.
 25. Themachine-readable storage device of claim 23, wherein the storedinstructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors toperform operations comprising: determining whether the incoming event isresponded to by a user corresponding to the electronic device within aspecified period of time; and returning to the first user interfacebased at least in part on a determination that the incoming event hasnot been responded to by the user within the specified period of time.